Quick Points: How to get a Saks Fifth Avenue gift card with your Amex Platinum
Editor's Note
The Platinum Card? from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), but it's worth it for some travelers.
The card includes perks like lounge access, travel protections and statement credits, including up to a $100 annual credit at Saks Fifth Avenue. The credit is split into two up to $50 credits — one for purchases from January through June and the second for purchases from July through December. Enrollment is required for select benefits. Terms apply.
What is the Saks Fifth Avenue Credit?
The statement credit is relatively straightforward. When you use your Amex Platinum at Saks Fifth Avenue in a physical store or online, Amex will credit you up to $50 in the first half of the year and up to another $50 in the second half. Unfortunately, the credits do not stack, so they will not carry over if you don't use your up to $50 credit by the end of June or December.
I'm not a frequent Saks Fifth Avenue customer, and $50 doesn't get you that far at Saks.
However, if you want to combine your up to $50 credits and maximize your statement credits, there may be a solution: Purchase a physical Saks Fifth Avenue gift card.
Related: A guide to the Amex Platinum Walmart+ benefit
How I use my Saks credit
If you have a Saks location near you, you can purchase a physical $50 gift card in the store. In my experience, these transactions qualify for Amex's statement credit. So, if you're not sure what you want to get at Saks Fifth Avenue or you're saving up for a larger item, this can be a great way to avoid wasting your statement credit.
Additionally, Saks gift cards are valid for at least five years, so you have plenty of time to decide how (and when) to use them. Just be sure to keep track of them and use them before they expire.
If you don't live near a physical Saks location, you may wonder whether this approach works for e-gift cards. Sadly, this approach generally doesn't apply to electronic gift cards. Historically, Saks bills e-gift cards differently, and thus, they do not trigger the Amex statement credit reimbursement. It's also not valid at Saks Off 5th outlets.
Finally, Saks does sell gift cards online that can be shipped to your home address. However, the lowest amount you can get on one of these is $150. Plus, you'll be on the hook for $9.95 in shipping charges. This could be a last resort if you're nowhere near a Saks Fifth Avenue location, but it still requires a significant out-of-pocket expense.
Related: 11 things you can buy with the Amex Platinum $50 Saks credit
Bottom line
The Amex Platinum is one of the most valuable travel cards, thanks to a long list of benefits and statement credits. Unfortunately, some of these take some effort to utilize. However, if you've been struggling with maximizing the Saks Fifth Avenue benefit, buying physical gift cards from a Saks store can be an alternative.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
Related: 5 ways you might be missing the value of your Amex Platinum card
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.